early bike trip photos

Leaving Fryeburg, Maine August 13th, 2010

The first day, said goodbye to my mom and dad and brother. and headed to my Aunt's house in Falmouth, Maine.

She road with me the next day to Brunswick.

"the moon for a ceiling, the earth for a floor"

I have had difficulty writing or thinking of anything to write that is compelling lately. Writer's block? I would think there would be immense amounts to write- something thoughtful and compelling- oh no I used the same word twice- this is horrible- a bad start to a belated attempt, but no one wants to hear what is the word for putting yourself down?

Let me tell you something I have learned though- about myself, I am crazy to ride my bicycle alone from Maine to North Carolina, especially on the Blue Ridge Parkway. So say the many strangers I run into on this road- (unless they are calling me a hero haha). In planning this trip I had no idea I would be on this road specifically the 75th anniversary year of this road that is rich with history of this country and I think about what is the meaning of this- Me on a journey to investigate intentional community on a bicycle riding through a tapestry of mountains and streams that defined the landscape of all those people who came from Europe and other places to call this place home, creating their own communities by, dare I say it?, destroying human and ecological communities already in existance. The evidence is still here- the growing up of non-native species, the hillsides covered with rows of christmas trees- a blaring contrast to what was found 400 years ago.
So what does this have to do with me and my adventure-? I guess the themes of connection and change have come up quite a bit for me- The importance of both. As a solo cyclist it has been important to be connected to people I know already and create connections in healthy ways on the road and with people I meet in homes and communities. Change is obvious- all the communities I have visited have changed in sometimes major ways, such as changing physical location, sometimes members change, sometimes rules for membership change, but the ones I have seen that have lasted are able to change and adapt.
Somehow I now want solve the damages to this country through what I have learned here about connection and change, hmmm. Waiting for an enigma.....
During this adventure year I have learned possible ways of recreating and redeeming this place I call home- to create a community where peaceful ways can be nurtured and where knowledge of local ecology AND HOW TO GROW YOUR OWN FOOD is priority. This kind of gathering of people is what I am looking for.
Because truly- this is our home- the moon is the ceiling and the earth our floor- thanks for saying it so well Seth Bernard.

The Long Road

A few days ago I stopped at a library and wrote on my facebook page- "miles to go before I sleep" I was going to go another 30 miles after a 30 or so in the morning in above 90 degree heat in the sun on a blacktop road. I left the library a little after 4pm- the day had been slow stopping for water and directions often- I was heading to Heathcote community one of several under the umbrella organization the School of the Living. I had left Wilmington, Delaware before 8 AM -- I had been chased by some dogs which was really scary but I dont think they were going to bite me- going up and down hills bigger than I had come across before. Then I got to the town before crossing over the dam of the Delaware River. I went from one gas station to the second of this town's gas stations asking for directions- what route was best to reach this community?. Well the woman at the second one- said I could not cross on a bicylce or as a pedestrian walk across the bridge- I was going to have to hitch hike across! What to do? There was a pepsi delivery guy in the store- he said he would drive me across the dam- okay do you have enough room I have a bicycle- he said- do you see the Pepsi truck outside? he asked- okay great - not knowing that was a possibility for a pepsi delivery guy to accept hitch hikers- .. so he did one more delivery to the other gas station and came back and we quickly loaded the bike into the empty soda compartment- I really wanted a picture so I took one- he THEN mentions how highly illegal this is-for him I was hoping- so we quickly jump into the truck and take off over the dam.. we are going to the same town but first he tells me he hopes the scales are closed- the scales that weigh and record how much the truck is- since I and my bike are there his weight would be off- luckily they are closed and so I go all the way to Dublin with him about 5 miles total. And we did not get caught- so I leave the library- refreshed from the airconditioned building and continue onward--
I turn down a road that I think is perhaps the correct one and then come to a downhill- at this point I usually check to see if I am on the right road since I am going east according to the sun and I need to go North or West.. as I stop a lady drives by and looks over-- I think I wish I could have asked her for directions- then I see the car again and I wave her down, but I didn't need to she was coming back to talk to me anyway! so before we even look at the map together she invites me to stay with her in her home-- I hesitate not accostumed to such kindness- so after deliberating we take the bags off the bike and the wheel and put everything in the back of Carrie Grayson's car! She has an extra room since her husband and son were away. We talked about agriculture and sustainable, local food systems as well as biking in the area- she had so much information about the area as well as a love for cheese, wine and olive oil- like me! We had a delicious dinner of pasta and salad and wine. I am so grateful. and the next day she took me within a few miles of Heathcote- where I got another 1 mile ride from Chris - so I had a few days off- that is just one day in the life of a touring cyclist-- a community of its own right.

Year of Adventure -Part 3 - Bike Tour

With the bike tour in full swing- I am appealing for motivation and have sent the following out to some people via e-mail. So you may have seen it already. Yesterday I was at the Thomas Farm Meeting School and there was someone there from Belfast, Maine since I never went to the Belfast Co-housing community I got the low down from him- sounds great there. It was great connecting with Friends again and being in the White Mountains (I think) is beautiful- so many trees around gives me hope for the world! So below is what I sent out to motivate myself and stay connected with people better through the last part of my year of adventure!

"I have been traveling by bicycle for 7 days today is day 8 and I have come to some hills and realize the importance of some additional motivation and connection to people back home..

Unfortunately there was some devastating news from Ladakh India three days after I got back to the USA- rains resulting in massive flooding, mud slides, and numerous deaths - people went missing under the mud and home and bridges were ruined in the an area that generally recieves no more than 3 inches of rainfall a year. One of the communities I had spent several weeks in and made many friends- now has much damage the bridges they use to get to the main road is now gone. They need help to rebuild their lives (since none were lost thankfully).

So I asked one friend what I could do to help and he said that I could raise donations and then Deb, who works for the International Society for Ecology and Culture in Ladakh said they were setting up a way for people to donate through the website to this particular village. http://www.isec.org.uk/ - that is the great organization I volunteered with in Ladakh- they have been in there for many years.

Here's how you can help:

1. Donate an amount to help rebuild the village of Takmachik for every mile I go-( you can set a dollar maximum for yourself if you want.) Tell me what it is so I can tell myself "if I go another mile that will mean X amount for Takmachik". And then when I stop I will email again and let you know how many miles I went. ( the miles counted will start today day 8 since I only just got an odometer). (Near the end of September).

2. Day with a friend option- Join me for a day or three or more and cycle with me! or just come visit me on tour- I am mapping out my route today for the rest of the journey now that I know about how many miles I go a day- OR let me know if you will be a place and able to host me along they way- I am going through the EAstern coastal states- spending a lot of time in Virginia and North Carolina, but currently in Massachusettes (almost). (yes I know about warm showers and couch surfing sites).

3. Send me a check so I can stay on the road- I don't get a free place to stay every night- I am still figuring that out- organization right!- so I couldn't belive $40 for a campsite one night and $25 is a lot too.. anyway if you have any touring tips for spending less send those my way or any extra cash laying around!

4- Dangle the carrot option- . Lump sum donation for Takmachik- if I make it to Ashville, NC! Tell me how much you will give to ISEC for Takmachik if I make it all the way!

5. Creative option- you tell me what it is!

Now that you are totally inspired email me right back and tell me what you are going to do!"

Thanks!!
Anna Hoekstra
alahoekstra@yahoo.com
(616) 635-7978

Bike tour Begins

The last part of my planned year has begun- a bike tour of farming communities/ or eco-communities from Maine to North Carolina or Georgia or Mexico Or whatever I feel like, Tennessee to Texas was the original plan.

Ladakh was an amazing experience and things got complicated near the end so I ceased to blog- it was costly to be on a slow internet connection all the time and I was busy so there.

I am happy to be back at the blogging thing- but may be difficult to find internet time along the road.

So far I have had two successful biking days and I plan to have a long day tomorrow on the bike but I may also be convinced to stay a while here and bike a half day- my next community is not until Massachusetts. Meanwhile an intentional community conference is happening in Virginia, where I will be in several weeks.. So missing the conference, but know someone who is attending. Hopefully I can catch up with them about what happened. There are a surprising number of communities in Virginia I wonder if the zoning laws/ land prices are lax/ low there - or else the Virginians are especially enlightened people.

DAy one was Fryeburg Maine to Falmouth Maine. Across the whole state of Maine-!! Where my Aunt Barb and Uncle John live. I had a nice shower and dinner out- thanks to them I also had desert- strawberry shortcake.!

The next day (today) my Aunt came with me biking to Brunswick Maine. That was really nice because I would still be out on the road lost probably if she had not come along. Then a few miles outside Brunswick I went on to the Community where I am staying tonight- To Echo Lane I think is the name, based on co-housing idea originating in Denmark.

I have already heard all the nitty gritty details of life in the community and how sometimes the rules can be too much- so I have already learned some valuable lessons about Consensus based decision making versus voting and how creating a process of getting to the option to vote a little faster might be a nicer way of doing things, so I will be keeping this in mind.

well I am very tired and should go to bed now-

More from Ladakh

Came down with a 24 hour flu the day before I had planned to go biking down from the highest motorable pass in the world. REally bummed! I have not been sick since being here, having been hanging out with Deb has been helpful for that, she is experienced with the food after three visits to Ladakh as well as health issues relating to altitude. But there has been a bug going around and I had not been sleeping very well.

The previous few days were very busy preparing food and language workshops for 14 farm participants coming for the "Learning from Ladakh" program through ISEC (International Society for Ecology and Culture). We had some fun times with people from Canada, Germany, Australia, the UK and , playing games. I shared my short dvd I made on my MacBook about Ladakhi farming with some Ladakhi terms. Can't wait to show it to everyone back home. After almost two months of being here and thinking about going home and how it will be to go home every day- I am now feeling comfortable. I can greet many people on the street and I can recommend where to shop an eat to tourists passing through. Few people from the "West" have been here as long as I have.

I am grateful for my family at the Shuma house, we had dinner with them a few nights ago, making mo-mo's a steamed dish very delicious, trying out our Ladakhi and Deb pulled out a wig, which everyone tried on and we howled with laughter. The oldest son came out with a new outfit, sunglasses and a carboard electric guitar and put on a show-- can't wait to post the pictures of that!

Tomorrow, July 6th is the Dalai Lama's birthday so we are excited to participate in the celebrations in some way.